upon the Irish vote in an Assembly predominately
non-Irish. That is not to the discredit of Ireland. The system would be
just as indefensible, whatever the subordinate State concerned. It would
be Federalism run mad, and would make Alexander Hamilton turn in his
grave. It is worth while to note that, even under a sane and normal
Federal system, the Irish Constitution would be less easily alterable in
either direction than under the plan of treating her as a self-governing
Colony. In the latter case action is direct and simple, while most
Federal Constitutions are extraordinarily difficult to amend. The
Dominion of Canada is only an apparent exception.

I turn lastly to Finance, the point which most closely affects
representation at Westminster, and which distinguishes any form of
quasi-Federal Home Rule most sharply from its alternative, "Colonial"
Home Rule.

All Federal systems necessarily involve a certain amount of joint
finance between the superior and the inferior Government. The
distribution of financial powers varies widely in different Federations,
but all have this feature in common--that the central or superior
Government controls Customs and Excise, and is to a large degree
financed by means of the revenue derived from those sources. The United
States Government, as distinguished from that of the individual States,
pays in this way for almost its entire expenditure.[94] So does the
Dominion of Canada;[95] while in the Australian Commonwealth the
receipts from Customs and Excise alone more than cover the whole
Commonwealth expenditure.[96]

Finance makes or mars Federations. Some Federations or organic Unions of
independent States have come into being through a strong desire in the
separate States to have, among other things, a common system of Customs,
and in the case of the German Empire and the South African Union a
Customs Union or _Zollverein_ has preceded Federation. These phenomena
are the most marked illustration of the general truth that a common
desire to federate, or unite, on the part of individual States is a
condition precedent to a sound Federation or Union. On the other hand,
finance, especially the question of joint Customs, has sometimes
presented obstacles to a Federation which, on other grounds, was
earnestly desired. The long delay in achieving the Australian Federation
was largely due to the desire of New South Wales to maintain her Free
Trade system, while the financial arrangements